Supporters of Egypt's toppled president asked to take part in referendum on new constitution

Amr Moussa, the chairman of Egypt's 50-member panel tasked with amending its Islamist-drafted constitution, talks during an interview with The Associated Press at the Shoura Council in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2013. Egypt’s veteran diplomat and liberal politician Moussa said a constitution drafted by a 50-member panel he chaired will offer unprecedented guarantees for democracy, individual freedoms and gender equality. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
(The Associated Press)

CAIRO – The chairman of a 50-member panel that drafted a new constitution for Egypt has called on supporters of the ousted Islamist president to participate in next month's referendum on the charter.

Amr Moussa told a news conference Sunday that Mohammed Morsi's supporters "must show that they are part of this nation and cooperate in taking Egypt out of this chaotic situation."

The new constitution is a significantly amended version of one that was adopted by a predominantly Islamist panel last year. The adoption of the new charter is the first step in a political road map announced in July by Egypt's military chief when he removed Morsi in a popularly backed military coup.

Morsi's supporters have been staging near-daily protests since his ouster. They often end in violence.

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